Folding top for flying boats



Aug. 28, 1928;

P. G. ZIMMERMANN ET AL FOLDING TOP FOR FLYING BOATS Filed Nov. 17. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet "Eula" 11 ill.

\N w a FN INVENTOR-S A T TOR/VE Aug. 28, 1928.

1,682,027 P. G. ZIMMERMANN ET AL FOLDING TOP FOR FLYING BOATS Filed Nov. 17. 1922 4 Shem-sheet 3 I I i 5 l l I x i l n I l Z IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 11111111111!!! I 1 Br ATTORNEY 7 Aug. 28, 1928.

PQG. ZIMMERMANN ET AL FOLDING TOP FOR FLYING BOATS Filed Nov. 17. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS A TTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

warren s'rArss 1,682,027 iATENT OFFICE.

PAUL G. ZIIVIMERMANN AND BOB-13V. KORVIN-KROUKOVSKY, OF KEYPORT, NEW JER- SEY, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGIBTME TO HEALEY-AEROMAIRINE BUS COM- PANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FOLDING TOP FOR FLYING BOATS.

Application filed. November 17, 1922. Serial No. 601,466.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and advantageous closed folding top for flying-boats, hydroplanes and the like. While particularly designed for covering and enclosing the passenger space of the boat of a flying-boat. the invention may also be applied to aeroplanes other than flying boats.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an intermediate portion of the body, with the folding top in the erected condition;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with the top folded;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, with the top p;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section including the region of the parting between the front and rear sections;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken toward the rear;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail cross-section on the line 77 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail cross-section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

The drawings illustrate enough of the boat 1 of the flying-boat to show the passenger space to be covered and closed in by the folding top 2.

This top comprises a front section 3 and a rear section'4, which part alongthe transverse line a. The rear section in turn consists of two halvesior sections 4, 4, which part along the longitudinal line b.

The front section has a flexible cover 5. comprising a top portion 6, an inclined front portion 7, and side portion 8, the front and side portions being provided with suitable windows 9 and 10. The cover is removably fastened around the lower edge to the cowl and deck by means of familiar turn-buttons 11.

The forward cover 5 is supported when in the erect condition by two transverse bows 12, 12*, which are pivoted at their lower ends on common transverse pivots 13 mounted in the boat at opposite sides of the passenger space, and in the erect condition incline, respectively, forward'and rearward in V-relation.

Each of the rear half sections 4 has a flexible cover 14, comprising a top portion 15, and a side portion 16 provided with windows 17. The rear part 18 of the top portion inchnes downward and rearward at a gentle inclination. Each of these cover sections 14 is supported in the erected condition by a longitudinal how 19, then standing at on outward inclination from the pivots 20 of its limbs, said pivots being suitably mounted in the boat. The lower edges of the cover sections 14 are secured to the body around the sides of the passenger space by fastenings 21 In the erected condition the meeting edges of the cover sections 5, 14 and 14 are fastened together along the parting lines a and Z) by turn-button fasteners 22. The buttons of the row of fastenings 22 that connect the front cover 6 with the rear cover 14 across the top are carried by a metal flange strip 35 which is secured to the cross member of the bow 12, the flange extending lengthwise of said member and projecting rearward therefrom in the erect condition, the eyelets of these fastenings being on the forward edges of the cover sections 14. A firm base is thus afforded for the fastening operation.

In addition, means are provided for sec-ur ing together the rear bow 12 of the front section and the bows 19 of the rear half sections. For this purpose forwardly projecting hooks 23 are fixed on the upper forward portions of said bows 19, and clamp catch levers 24 are pivoted to lugs 25 atthe upper corner regions of the bow 12*, links 26 pivoted eccentrically on these levers being engageable with the hooks so as to draw the frame members together when the links are carried past center.

A plate 27 is disposed in the central longitudinal region of the parting 6, having an opening through it to accommodate a forwardly and downwardly inclined strut 28 forming part of the flying-boat structure. Around the strut opening this plate is formed with a flange 29 containing screw holes 30, whereby it is fixed to the strut, a screw-hole lug 31 being also provided at the front end of the plate for the same purpose. Around the margin of the plate are turn-buttons 32, which cooperate with eyes on the adjoining portions of the covers 14 when the top is up.

Extending lengthwise of the parting b, in front of the plate 27 is a rigid ridge-strip 83, consisting of an upwardly angled bar one limb of which is riveted to the longitudinal edge of one of the flexible cover sections 14, the other limb carrying a row of the inward cover sections 14: and the plate 27, all of which are accessible from within the enclosure, are undone. The clamp levers 24 are also manipulated to release the bows of the front and rear sections from each other.

i The front section 3 folds forward and downward at the front of the passenger space, as indicated in Fig. 3 and then forms a deflecting wind-shield. The rear half-sections fold oppositely outward and downward at thetwo sides of the passenger spacegvhcre they lie compactly. The folded sections are held in this manner by straps 34. In the folded condition of th e-thrce section cover the pi'lot has good visibility forward and downward over thesides (see Fig. 3') and also has windshield protection.

Whilethe preferredform of the invention h-asbeen described in detail, it will beunderstood that various changes may be made without departing from essentials;

What is claimed as new is 1 Ina folding top for flying-boats, two sectionspartin-g longitudinally and compris ing flexible covers and longitudinal pivoted bows adapted" to fold oppositely outward and downward, an angular ridge striphaving one limb secured to the longitudinal edge of one of said covers-,and means for-detacl-i-ably fas toning the edgeo-f the other cover to'the other limbof the ridge strip,

In a folding top for flying-boats, apair o-f sect-ions parting longitudinally and coniprisingz-flexiblecovers and longitudinal pivoted-bows adapted-tofold oppositely outward and downward, atop plate having an opening, for a strut and means for securement to suchstrut, and in'eansfor detachably fasten-- ing said covers together and to said top plate.

3. A folding top for flying-boats, comprising foldable front and rear sections parting transversely, the front section comprising a flexible cover and transverse pivoted bows adapted to fold forward and downward, the rear section comprising two halves parting longitudinally, said halves'comprising flexible covers and longitudinal pivoted bows adapted to fold oppositely outward and (lbWIiWZLICl, and rows of fastenings for connecting the sections at the partings, a transverse row of the fastening elements for conmeeting the front and rear sections abross'the top being carried by a bow of the front section. I

i. A folding top for flying-boats, comprising folfdable front and rear sections parting transversely, the front section comprising a flexible cover and transverse pivoted bows adapted to fold forward and ClOVVIlWaTdythG rear section comprising two halves parting longitudinally, s'aid halves comprising flexible covers and longitudinal pivoted bows adapted to fold oppositely outward and downward, a strip on the edge of one of the rear cover halves, said strip in the erected condition being supported at its front end on abow of the front section, and rows of fastenings for connecting the sections at the partings, a longitudinal row of the. fastening elements for connecting the two rear cover halves being carried-by said strip;

5. A folding top-for flying-boats, comprising foldable front and rear sections parting transversely, the frontsection comprising a flexible coverandtransverse pivoted bows adapted to foldforward and downward, the rear section comprising two halves parting longitudinally, said halves comprising flexible covers and longitudinal pivoted bows adapted to fold oppositely outward and downward, a top plate having an opening for a strut and means for secureinent to such strut, a strip onthe inner'edge ofo'ne of the rearicover halves, saidstrip in the erect con ditionbeing supported at its front end on a bow of the front sectionand at its rear end on saidtop plate, and means for fastening the sections together.

' PAUL G. ZlMMERMANN.

BORIS V. KORVlN-KROUKOVSKX". 

